Daily Times

KARACHI: The Karachi Harbour is the most polluted port entity in the world due to the constant drain of heavy toxic industrial chemicals into seawaters, said Mir Hasil Khan Bizenjo, the federal minister for Ports and Shipping.

“It is a high time that seawater of Karachi Harbour is heavily polluted through various industrial wastes and chemicals falling into it untreated,” he said while talking to media at the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) head office here on Tuesday. The federal minister chaired a meeting of the Marine Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and all stakeholders for completion of S-III and S-IV pollution control projects.

Bizenjo voiced the hope that the Sindh government in collaboration with the federal government will implement the framed policies. The provincial government has to ensure early completion of the treatment plants to control highly polluted waste coming into the seawaters of Karachi from various culverts, he added.

The minister formed a three-member committee comprising KPT Chairman Shafqat Jawed, Commander of Fleet Pakistan Vice Admiral Syed Arifullah Hussaini and a representative of the Sindh government. He asked the Sindh chief secretary to nominate a representative for this committee which will evaluate the projects like S-III, S-IV and other plans already in pipeline for solid and chemical waste management.

He said that these toxic chemicals were falling in the sea through various culverts and the committee has been tasked to submit on a report on the issue within two weeks time. On submission of the report by the committee, another meeting will be called and the Sindh chief minister will also be asked to coordinate with the departments concerned.

The meeting of the Marine Pollution Control Board (MPCB) was attended by Ports and Shipping Secretary Khalid Pervaiz, Director General Asad Rafi Chandana, KPT Chairman Shafqat Jawed and other stakeholders.